Getting started

A new account takes about fifteen minutes to get useful. Nothing here is mandatory in order, and you can leave any of it half-done and come back.

Create your account

1
Go to backbarhq.com and start a free trial. You need an email address and a password, and no credit card.
2
Check your email for a 6-digit code. The email does not contain a link, so open the app and type the code into the "Check your email" screen.
3
Tap "Verify and continue". That drops you straight onto your Dashboard.

No code after a minute or two? Tap "Send a new code", and check your spam folder. If it still does not arrive, email support@backbarhq.com from the address you signed up with.

Work through the setup checklist

Your Dashboard shows a card called "Finish setting up your studio" with a progress counter. Tap it to open the checklist. Every step is optional and you can do them in any order, so start with whatever matters to you. The card disappears on its own once the list is done.

The seven steps are:

Set up your profile: your name and business name
Bring your clients over: send us your list and we load it for you
Add your services: what you offer, and your prices
Set your working hours: when clients can book you
Connect card payments: get paid by card, in person or by link
Add your first client: start building their history
Turn on online booking: let clients book you from a link

You can reach all of the same screens later from Setup. Tap the gear icon in the top right of any screen to open it.

The four things you need before a client can book

Online booking will not go live until these are in place. Everything else can wait.

1
Add at least one service. Setup, then Business, then Service Menu, then "+ Add". Give it a name, a duration, and a price.
2
Set your working hours. Setup, then Business, then Availability. Fill in Working Hours and tap "Save Hours", then set your booking slots and tap "Save Slots".
3
Claim your link name. Setup, then Booking page, then Online Booking. Type a name after "/book/" and tap "Save link". The screen tells you live whether it is available.
4
Turn the "Online booking" toggle on. If you have not saved a link name yet it will tell you to do that first.

Card payments are not required to take bookings. If Stripe is not connected you will see "Heads up: card deposits are off" on the booking screen. Services with a deposit are still bookable, the deposit is just collected in person.

Connect card payments

Go to the Finances tab, then Manage, then Card Payments. Tap "Connect Stripe" and follow Stripe's onboarding in your browser. When you come back, tap "Refresh Status".

You will see one of three states: "Connect Stripe to get paid" if you have not started, "Almost there" if Stripe still needs details from you, or "Ready to accept cards" once you are done. Card payments go straight to your own Stripe account and then to your bank. BackBar Pro never takes a commission.

Preview your booking page

From Setup, then Booking page, then Online Booking, tap "Preview booking site" to see exactly what a client sees. When it looks right, use "Copy link" on the web or "Share link" on your phone and put it in your Instagram bio.

Bringing your clients over from another app Billing, plans, and cancelling Contact support